Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is unlikely to play in Wednesday night's showdown against James Harden and the Houston Rockets because of an illness.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters that Butler, who missed Wednesday morning's shootaround, is "wiped out" and is battling a condition similar to guard Goran Dragic's recent sinus infection.

"He is totally out of it this morning, very similar to what Goran had," Spoelstra said.

Butler, who is officially listed as questionable, is averaging team highs of 18.9 points and 6.7 assists per game.

Butler had 18 points and nine assists earlier this month when the Heat limited Harden to 29 points during a 129-100 blowout win in Miami. Harden is averaging a league-best 37.9 points per game.

When Anthony Davis asked the New Orleans Pelicans to trade him, preferably to the Los Angeles Lakers, it may have seemed like a tough decision. But he had five decades of history to show him how.

In 1968, Wilt Chamberlain informed the Philadelphia 76ers that he wanted to be traded to the Lakers. Chamberlain threatened 76ers general manager Jack Ramsay that if he wasn't accommodated he'd take his talents to the new American Basketball Association or play pro beach volleyball.

Chamberlain got his trade. Thus, the NBA superstar trade demand was born. More than 50 years later, its implementation has never been stronger.

Modern-day stars have been forcing trades at a record pace. It's remarkable it has taken this long, as the leverage of a basketball star is unparalleled in major team sports.

Even after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made his power play by asking the Milwaukee Bucks to trade him in 1974 (the trade happened in '75), others barely followed. The 1980s were largely devoid of such action, though Magic Johnson did publicly demand a trade that forced the Lakers to fire coach Paul Westhead. It wasn't until 1992 that another in-his-prime superstar made the play, when Charles Barkley pushed his way out of Philadelphia.

This decade, of course, it has become routine business. Some, such as Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, have pressured their teams to trade them twice. Call it player empowerment if you want, though it has more the feel of player enlightenment.

The track record of players demanding trades might be enough to pull you in that direction:

• Chamberlain won his second title in Los Angeles and played plenty of volleyball in his free time.

• Abdul-Jabbar won five more rings and loved being back in L.A.

• Johnson won four more titles with new coach Pat Riley.

• Kevin Love asked for a trade and won a championship in Cleveland.

• Kawhi Leonard asked for a trade and won a championship in Toronto before landing as a free agent with the Clippers.

• Paul ended up playing for competitive teams, getting elected as union president and making millions in endorsements after moving to the Clippers.

• George appeared content enough in Oklahoma City to re-sign for four years (three plus an option). Then he asked again for a trade and went close to home to compete for titles with the Clippers.

When George, Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler demanded trades, they didn't immediately get to control where they ended up. That lack of agency -- despite attempts to exert control -- is one downside for players.

Irving seemed to thrive in Boston, then ended up abandoning a public pledge to re-sign there. "I'm incredibly grateful to be here, it's been a journey," Irving said after departing for Brooklyn, closer to home. "This is a game, but also our lives come into this, and when it affects our happiness to play basketball then the product ... is not great."

Like Irving ultimately, Leonard, George and Butler each got to choose his next destination, leaving the teams that acquired them by trade. All four are examples of how fragile contentment can be in the current NBA but, then again, all four are examples of the eventual positive outcomes from trade demands.

So if you're a star and you're disenchanted or you see an opportunity elsewhere, you might as well go ahead and issue an instruction to your team. You might face a backlash from fans and others, and you might forgo millions when you don't sign the largest possible contract with your original team -- in some cases tens of millions. But you are probably already on a nine-figure deal and will have another one coming your way.

When Anthony Davis made his trade demand in January, he was fined $50,000, faced boos and lived in NBA purgatory for four months with his playing time cut. Meanwhile, the Pelicans played out the string and waited for the offseason, when the trade to the Lakers would ultimately be consummated.

"When you look at LeBron, every year you know he's going to be great and his team is going to have a chance to win the title," Davis said last year as he stated his intentions. "From here on out, I want to be in that conversation every year. Not every other year. Not every few years. Every year."

By July, he was smiling wide like Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar before him. Those few months of bad press and uncomfortable nights weren't automatically forgotten, but they had faded.

Now the Lakers are 15-2 and looking like title contenders. Playing alongside James has been an adjustment, and Davis has been dealing with shoulder and rib injuries, but the situation has been everything he could've hoped for. He's months away from likely signing a max deal to stay in L.A. The future, as far as one can see, looks bright, and Davis isn't apologizing.

"As long as I can sleep at night and live with the decisions that I made, then I'm happy and I don't really care what anyone else thinks," Davis said.

As he returns to New Orleans for the first time Wednesday night (ESPN, 9:30 ET), he might wish a few things had gone differently. Perhaps the trade demand didn't have to be made publicly, he could have continued to compete rather than sit and watch his team lose and he didn't have to wear the "That's all Folks!" shirt on the last night of the season.

But major regrets? If he has them, he won't be admitting to them anytime soon, it appears.

In the 2018 offseason, Davis closed on a $7.5 million home near L.A. and hired agent Rich Paul, a wartime consigliere in the NBA world. In retrospect, it was clear he had a good idea about what was coming. Paul performed his job, giving the bad news to the Pelicans and then doing his best to scare off the Boston Celtics and other suitors until New Orleans had very few options other than making a deal with L.A.

In the end, Davis got what he wanted -- including reportedly an even grander rental home closer to Staples Center. Plus good access to the ocean in case he wants to take up beach volleyball.

And in a couple of years, if this trade hasn't worked out, he could just do what superstars do: ask for another one.

NBA MVP debate: Who is winning the incredibly tight race?

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed their leadership makeover Wednesday, hiring Derek Shelton to be their new manager.

Shelton spent the past two seasons as the Minnesota Twins' bench coach. This will be his first major league managerial job.

"I have known Derek for more than 15 years and have great admiration for his passion for the game and players, work ethic, curiosity and desire to learn," general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement.

Shelton's previous stops include a season as the quality control coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 -- his tenure overlapping Cherington's stint as Toronto's vice president of baseball operations -- and seven years as a hitting coach with the Tampa Bay Rays. Shelton broke into the majors as hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians from 2005 to 2009, and he has managed in the New York Yankees' minor league system.

Cherington added that Shelton "will help lead an elite playing and coaching environment at the major league level and be a true partner to all of baseball operations."

Shelton, 49, said in a statement that he wants to facilitate a "player-centric culture built on strong communication and relationships with our players, our staff and the entire organization."

He replaces Clint Hurdle, who was fired in September amid the franchise's worst season (69-93) since 2010.

The Pirates hired Cherington to be their general manager earlier this month and named Travis Williams as their new president in October.

Shelton filled the eighth and final manager vacancy, joining Joe Maddon (Angels), Joe Girardi (Phillies), David Ross (Cubs), Jayce Tingler (Padres), Mike Matheny (Royals), Carlos Beltran (Mets) and Gabe Kapler (Giants). Beltran was the only racial minority hired for a manager opening.

Shelton inherits a team that finished below .500 in three of the past four seasons, though the on-field product during a miserable 25-48 second half proved to be just part of Pittsburgh's issues in 2019. Relievers Keone Kela and Kyle Crick were suspended for their roles in separate dust-ups with members of the team's coaching and support staff. All-Star closer Felipe Vazquez was arrested in September on felony charges stemming from an alleged sexual assault of a minor.

Cherington said shortly after his hire that the Pirates need to do a better job of continuing to develop players once they reach the major leagues. Owner Bob Nutting expressed frustration at seeing former Pirates prospects flourish elsewhere, including Rays outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

Amid the losing, there were bright spots. First baseman Josh Bell became an All-Star while hitting 37 home runs. Rookie outfielder Bryan Reynolds hit .314 and finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting, and shortstop Kevin Newman hit .308 in 130 games after being elevated to the starting role following an early season injury to Erik Gonzalez.

The pitching staff, however, is in tatters. Ace Jameson Taillon is out for 2020 after Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow for a second time. Pittsburgh finished with a team ERA of 5.18, next-to-last in the NL and 26th in the majors.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Switch from squash to finance
By DONNA HELMER – Squash Mad Correspondent

England’s Chris Simpson has announced his retirement from professional squash with immediate effect.

Simpson, 32, turned professional in 2005 and captured his first PSA title in 2008. The former world No.20, who hails from Guernsey, represented England multiple times as both a junior and senior.

A four-time British National junior champion and European Under 19 champion, Simpson was part of the England team who claimed World Junior bronze in 2004 and most recently, the 2016 European Team Championship title.

Simpson’s last outing on the PSA World Tour came in the Channel VAS Championships at St. George’s Hill last week.

Simpson said: “It’s been an amazing journey, but after over 14 hugely enjoyable years of professional squash I have now played my last tournament. I am excited for the next chapter as I start a Trainee Financial Planner role in January.

“So many people have helped me over the years, unfortunately, I can’t list you all but you know who you are so… THANK YOU.

“A special thanks to my parents for all the sacrifices you made that allowed me to chase my dream, spending so many years taxiing me across the country, weekends in stuffy squash clubs and dealing with my bad moods after losses! Also to my wife, Charlotte, for all your support over the last 10 years.

“Lastly to England Squash, your support has been invaluable throughout my career. Squash will always be a big part of my life, so I will always stay involved in some capacity. I look forward to following my friends on the PSA tour as a fan.”

David Campion, National Coach at England Squash said: “Chris has been an integral part of England Squash for over 20 years. He has represented his country successfully at both junior and senior level, and always given the very best account of himself.

“Chris has many friends in the world of squash, largely due to his great character. He is the utmost professional – one of the good guys, very fair on court and always played with great spirit.

“On behalf of England Squash, we wish him all the very best with his new career and will miss him.” 

Let’s have your tributes to Chris.

Readers are invited to share their tributes to Chris below.

Picture courtesy of England Squash 

Working to the Premiership salary cap is "really easy" and there is "no way" you can breach it with the right model in place, says Bristol boss Pat Lam.

Champions Saracens were fined £5.36m and docked 35 points by an independent disciplinary panel earlier this month.

Bristol signed Fiji star Semi Radrada on Wednesday, with the winger set to line-up alongside the league's highest-paid player Charles Piutau next season.

"What we've done is used the framework given to us," said Lam.

"The first thing I did here was sit down with Andrew Rogers [Premiership Rugby head of governance and regulation] and Mark Tainton [Bristol chief executive] and we went through everything.

"The beauty about the way it's set up is he [Rogers] is the guy that signs everything off, so if you have any questions you just ask him."

The salary cap stands at £7m for the 2019-20 season, with clubs able to nominate two players in their squad to be excluded from the cap.

Lam, who confirmed that Radrada would join as one of their two allotted 'marquee' players, said he also expected Piutau to remain at Ashton Gate despite being his current contract expiring at the end of this season.

"The Premiership salary cap is there to make sure there's an even competition across the board," added Lam. "I haven't spent any more money than my predecessors.

"I've brought the same contracting and recruitment model as I had at Connacht. It's really clear - if I put an offer in here, a number changes somewhere else. There's no way you can go over.

"I go nowhere near that line. We're way below it, that's the exciting thing about it."

Ulster's Will Addison has been banned for four weeks after being found to have made a dangerous tackle during last weekend's European Champions Cup win over Clermont Auvergne.

Addison will miss Friday's Pro14 game against Scarlets, back-to-back European matches against Harlequins plus the Pro14 derby against Leinster.

He was cited for a first-half tackle on Clermont second row Paul Jedrasiak.

Citing commissioner John Byett ruled Addison had a case to answer.

Jedrasiak was forced off injured after the players' heads collided, but referee JP Doyle cleared the Ulster full-back of any foul play after consulting television match official (TMO) Trevor Fisher.

Ireland international Addison did not accept the citing complaint but a disciplinary committee in London ruled the Ulster player had made "reckless contact with Jedrasiak's head in attempting the tackle".

The committee decided that a six-week ban would be the "appropriate" sanction but reduced it to four because of the player's clean disciplinary record.

Addison does have the right to appeal against the decision, which rules him out of this weekend's game, the European ties against Harlequins on 7 and 13 December plus the Pro14 match with Leinster at the RDS Arena on 20 December.

His suspension continues to 22 December, which means he will be in line to feature again for Ulster against Connacht on 27 December.

The former England Under-20 back has emerged as an influential player for Ulster since moving from Sale last year and his absence from a key period in the campaign will be a major blow for coach Dan McFarland.

He narrowly missed out on securing a place in Ireland's World Cup squad this year after earning his second cap in the warm-up win over Wales in August.

Ulster top Pool Three in the Champions Cup after winning their opening two games, while they are second in the Pro14's Conference A following four wins in six matches.

SALISBURY, N.C. — StarCom Racing has signed Quin Houff as the team’s full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Houff will pilot the No. 00 entry for StarCom next season, taking the reins of that car from Landon Cassill, as he embarks on his first full year at the Cup Series level.

Wednesday’s announcement adds to StarCom Racing plan of building its program around young talent as the Derrike Cope-guided organization enters its third full NASCAR season.

“I’m very excited to become a part of the StarCom Racing family,” said Houff. “This is the chance of a lifetime, to be able to become a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver and to turn my childhood dream into a reality. I can’t thank those that were involved throughout my career enough, especially my family and sponsors! I also would like to thank StarCom Racing for this opportunity. I am looking forward to building a reputation and experience alongside this young, fast-growing team at the top level of motorsports.”

Houff competed in 17 NASCAR Cup Series races this season, splitting time between the Spire Motorsports No. 77 and Jay Robinson’s Premium Motorsports team.

He also has 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on his resume as well, with a 15th-place finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in his series debut in 2017 and a career-high 12th-place run at Iowa Speedway that same year. Both of those starts were with owner Rick Gdovic.

“In our efforts to continue the progression of StarCom Racing, we have many plans for building the team in 2020 and being prepared for the introduction of the Next Gen car,” said Cope, StarCom’s team manager. “I am pleased to have young and passionate driver Quin Houff join us to help continue his progression in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“Quin is a delightful, quick-witted young man that is eager to finally showcase his talents and race in his first Daytona 500 in February.”

Houff will start his first Great American Race and kick off his maiden full-time voyage on Feb. 16 at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway.

For Cassill, his future with the StarCom organization was unclear as of Wednesday.

The 30-year-old from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took over driving duties for StarCom at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in 2018 and has raced for the team the last two seasons.

StarCom officials did indicate, however, that they have “a commitment” to Cassill that they will see through next season, appearing to indicate that he’ll have a place in the sport and with StarCom in some fashion.

“We are thankful for all that Landon Cassill has brought to StarCom Racing’s program in 2019,” team officials said in a prepared statement. “We have a commitment to Landon that we plan to honor in 2020. Details on that commitment will come at a later date.”

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will visit the country’s baddest bullring twice in 2020.

The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its first stop at River Cities Speedway on Friday, June 5 for the first leg of the Northern Tour.

The series will return to Grand Forks following the Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 21.

On June 7 this year, Logan Schuchart became just the 10th different driver to visit RydellCars.com victory lane with the World of Outlaws at River Cities Speedway.

The Hanover, Pa., driver led all 40 trips around the high-banked three-tenths mile oval en route to the win.

When the series returned on Aug. 16, it was a familiar face taking the checkers. Donny Schatz started sixth and led 23 laps, cruising to his 12th career Outlaw win at River Cities.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series first competed at River Cities Speedway in 2007, with Joey Saldana picking up the win in the inaugural event.

There have only been three repeat Outlaw winners at the track over the last 13 years.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chris Janson, a platinum-selling artist and award-winning singer and songwriter, will perform during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards on Dec. 5.

Janson joins Cassadee Pope, who will serve as the event co-host alongside NASCAR on NBC’s Rutledge Wood, as musical artists who will play a part in NASCAR’s inaugural visit to the Music City for its season-ending Champion’s Week festivities and awards celebration.

“I’m thrilled to be bringing my music to the NASCAR celebration in Nashville,” Janson said. “We love NASCAR, the drivers and the fans! It’s going to be a good time!”

Janson is a Grand Ole Opry member who recently ascended to the top of the charts with his third No. 1 single, “Good Vibes,” from his new album Real Friends.

In addition, Janson received the ACM Video of the Year Award for “Drunk Girl,” his Gold-certified hit song which earned Song of the Year honors at the 2018 MusicRow Awards.

Meanwhile, Janson’s double-platinum hit “Buy Me A Boat” earned the iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year Award.

Both songs were named to the “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” list by Nashville Songwriters Ass’n Int’l.